What can realistically be done with the old Co-Op?

Tilly

Well-Known Forumite
Between you and I ...

There could be some bargain properties going quite soon on the edge of Stafford

You havent heard it from me but

HS2 to be shelved

Hopton, Ingestre, lovely places

:rich:


Dear Gareth

I do hope you managed to get some great bargains from my personal tip off

Usual fees apply

Tilly

 

markpa12003

Well-Known Forumite
I was involved in the redevelopment of the co-op department store in Rugby. The Rugby store had the advantage of being a modern unit and, therefore, it was easy to sub divide into a number of units - all food related.

The likelihood of the exisiting Stafford co-op store and M&S being let at their current size is slim in my opinion. Therefore, both units need to be subdivided.
 

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
I think the problem with our co-op is it's on like ten different levels inside, I don't really know what they were thinking when they built it like that, unless each department had a separate floor level to disassociate itself from the one it was next to?
 

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
Flats might not be a bad idea, stud walling isn't complicated or expensive and a lot can be done to give a facelift to the external parts, new glass, a complete re-render and something sort of decorative to make it look like it has a roof, job done. In fact the flat roof could create roof terrace possibilities for the flats.

Keep the downstairs commercial and divide into a number of retail units, shops, cafes, bars then the upper floors to living accommodation, it's not rocket science, resident parking would be the biggest issue to overcome.

The split levels wouldn't be an issue if units are self contained, any change in levels could be at the back for stock room/office spaces.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
I think the problem with our co-op is it's on like ten different levels inside, I don't really know what they were thinking when they built it like that, unless each department had a separate floor level to disassociate itself from the one it was next to?

I would have liked to see what the inside looked like as a co-op.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I would have liked to see what the inside looked like as a co-op.
The Magic Roundabout Exhibition.

27637-0.jpg
 

Tilly

Well-Known Forumite
Stage coach horses stables

Fairly certain this is the future

York, Stafford, London

Or a pencil case museum
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
The Superdrug thing was NOT a rumour. It was definitely in black and white that SCC wanted to do it. They just had no money to do it.

No it wasn't in black and white at all.

When I contacted both SCC and owners of the superdrug in around 2009 to offer my consultancy services for what can be done with the build/ area, when this rumour first went around town, SCC knew of the rumour and had no interest and the build owner had received no approach and nor was it up for sale.

Upon attempting again in about 2011/ 2012, the SCC comms team (Joanne, do not remember her surname) advised it was just rumour as was the fact all the units under staffs place were to be taken by a tesco express, asian cuisine restaurant and something else I cannot remember, it was all made up by locals
 

Feed The Goat

Well-Known Forumite
No it wasn't in black and white at all.

When I contacted both SCC and owners of the superdrug in around 2009 to offer my consultancy services for what can be done with the build/ area, when this rumour first went around town, SCC knew of the rumour and had no interest and the build owner had received no approach and nor was it up for sale.

Upon attempting again in about 2011/ 2012, the SCC comms team (Joanne, do not remember her surname) advised it was just rumour as was the fact all the units under staffs place were to be taken by a tesco express, asian cuisine restaurant and something else I cannot remember, it was all made up by locals

Apologies. I bow to your superior knowledge. The artists impressions with Superdrug missing that were presented to us must have been drawn as part of a school project.

Are you still waiting for Joanne Thingymabob to come back to you?
 

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
I would have liked to see what the inside looked like as a co-op.
Did you not go in when it was reopened briefly as the stafford department store ?

You didn't miss much, had such a terrible layout. Steps were everywhere.

Downstairs was primarily clothing and their travel store, upstairs was baby, kids toys, the bank and customer service and their home and electrical department.
 

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
Oh n the café was upstairs too, along with Santa's grotto off the baby section in a corner, but from what I remember, n I may be wrong, maybe someone can tell me, in that baby area, it was in a room off a corner, so if a fire broke out n you were there, you're pretty much screwed tbh , unless you want to risk the lift which was placed there ?
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Oh n the café was upstairs too, along with Santa's grotto off the baby section in a corner, but from what I remember, n I may be wrong, maybe someone can tell me, in that baby area, it was in a room off a corner, so if a fire broke out n you were there, you're pretty much screwed tbh , unless you want to risk the lift which was placed there ?
True dat.

It was such a strange layout!
There was a cookware department downstairs too, and furniture, beds & electricals upstairs along with the toy department. Also a bank or a foreign currency excange by the toy department. ?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
There is also a basement area, accessed from stairs at the Crabbery Street side entrance - that was Kitchen Stuff for most of the latter period.


Beaten by @littleme - time to give up....
 

Mikinton

Well-Known Forumite
Going off at a slight tangent, the rooms above Connells estate agent (was Blockbuster Videos?) on Salter Street/Malt Mill Lane, used to be part of the Co-Op. I used to go there to cash cheques when I was up that end of town. Was the furniture section there as well, presumably so you could buy the stuff there and pop in every month to pay the hire-purchase. The entrance was between Connells and Cup-a-Cha.
 

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
The only furniture shop I remember down that end was Courts, which strangely enough, is still going strong in Asia and the Caribbean...
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Did you not go in when it was reopened briefly as the stafford department store ?

You didn't miss much, had such a terrible layout. Steps were everywhere.

Downstairs was primarily clothing and their travel store, upstairs was baby, kids toys, the bank and customer service and their home and electrical department.

I did, I just couldn't really picture how you'd arrange a Co-op in there.
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
Downstairs was primarily clothing and their travel store, upstairs was baby, kids toys, the bank and customer service and their home and electrical department.


My mum worked in the Debenhams section of the old Co-op. I think there was another clothes section next to the Debenhams bit as well.
 
Top